Short Description
A process used when a patient has multiple dental insurance plans to determine which plan pays first and how costs are shared.
Long Description
Coordination of Benefits (COB) is a process used when a patient is covered by more than one dental insurance plan. It determines which plan is primary (pays first) and which plan is secondary (pays remaining costs, if applicable). COB ensures that the total reimbursement does not exceed the actual cost of treatment.
The primary plan pays benefits first, up to its coverage limits. The secondary plan may then cover some or all of the remaining costs, depending on its policy rules. Some insurance plans use a non-duplication rule, meaning they only pay if the primary plan covers less than what the secondary plan would have paid alone.
COB helps reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients but does not guarantee full coverage. Patients should review their policies to understand how benefits will be coordinated and what costs they may still owe.